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FEATHERED UICSIDENT8 IN THE GROUNDS OF TERRICK HOUSE. 101 



1 have known instances of their having perished from a succession of cold wet 

 days, even after the commencement of summer. They usually withdraw from 

 this locality early in October, but at Brighton, and doubtless other places 

 along the south coast, they may be met with far on in November. 



On the occurrence of a cold and stormy day in summer, when the insect 

 world has hid itself among herbage, in thatch, in crannies, and other places 

 which may afford it shelter, these birds will assiduously attend the mower, 

 as with measured tread he wields the keen-edged scythe, and, like time, slowly, 

 but surely, sweeps down all before him; here a temporary supply of food 

 awaits them in numerous Phalenae, which are roused from their lurking places, 

 and, like timid people, in the attempt to escape from an imaginary danger, 

 rush into a real one; or as there would be some danger of their being cut 

 by the blade of the mower if they remained in their place of concealment, 

 the case of the oppressed and unfortunate Kaffirs in the late war would 

 perhaps be more applicable, who, when the lighted match was applied to their 

 tents, had no alternative but to perish in the flames, or by rushing out, all 

 defenceless as they were, men, women, and children, to be struck down by 

 the shot or steel of the enemy. To comment upon this war would be entirely 

 out of place here; I must, therefore, refrain from doing so. 



For the reason before stated, we leave the interior, and walk round to the 

 back of the building, and casting our eyes up its walls, we perceive foundry 

 small twigs projecting from behind some loose plaster, which has become de- 

 tached from the face of the wall, but arrested in its descent, and prevented 

 falling further by the clinging embrace of that strengthener and beautifier of 

 old walls and ruins, the ivy. What a faithful and pleasing picture does the 

 ivy-clad wall display to us, of the benefits to be derived from mutual support; 

 the wall supporting, and thereby invigorating and enabling to mount heaven- 

 ward the ivy, which must otherwise have remained grovelling along upon 

 earth, (and this is precisely what education, when combined, as it ought in 

 all cases to be, with religion, does for man,) the ivy giving additional strength 

 to the wall, concealing its blemishes and defects, and rendering that which 

 would otherwise have been an unsightly object, a picturesque and beautiful 

 one. 



We place the ladder and ascend to this nest, where we shall probably find 

 the owner firm in her determination not to quit except by absolute force; we 

 therefore gently exert that force, when she descends nearly to the base of 

 some tree near at hand, and then commences an erratic and zigzag course up 

 its trunk. We recognise in this movement the Common Creeper, (Certhia 

 familiaris.) These birds, though generally dispersed over this part of the 

 country, are by no means numerous; a solitary bird, or at most a pair, being 

 only occasionally to be met with. Having selected a suitable locality for a 

 home, they appear to me to reside there permanently throughout the year, 

 and also from year to year. Around this home they make daily excursions 

 in order to procure their daily food, searching for it behind the bark of trees, 



